Viola plant named ‘Sunviobuho’

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Viola cornuta,  named ‘Sunviobuho’, which is a vegetatively propagated variety. This new variety has a spreading growth habit with long prostrate stems. This  Viola  plant has many branches, and great profusion of blooms with the entire plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. It displays dense green foliage, and single, small-sized flowers on long peduncles that are violet-blue and white in coloration. The plant exhibits good resistance to cold, diseases and pests.

Botanical/commercial classification: Viola cornuta/Viola Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Sunviobuho.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Violacornuta named ‘Sunviobuho’ that originated from the crossing a Violahybrid variety named ‘0V-41-9’ as the female parent and ‘0V-80’ as themale parent.

During April 2000, crossing of ‘0V-41-9’ as the female parent and‘0V-80’ as the pollen parent was conducted at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga,Japan. In May 2000, some seeds were obtained from that crossing. InAugust 2000, the seeds were sown and 20 seedlings were obtained. Threeof the seeding were selected in view of their spreading growth habit,small flower size and blue and white petal color. These seedlings werepropagated by the use of cuttings and grown in pots, and then a planttrial was carried out beginning in October 2001, at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga,Japan. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined,using the similar varieties, ‘Violetto Nive’ and ‘Alpine Summer’, forcomparison. As a result, one seedling was selected and it was concludedthat this Viola plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whoseexistence is known to us, and is uniform and stable in itscharacteristics. The new variety of Viola plant was named ‘Sunviobuho’.

The female parent ‘0V-41-9’ (not patented in the U.S.) is our breedingline grown at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, having a spreading growthhabit with prostrate stems. It has smaller-sized flowers than the newvariety ‘Sunviobuho’ and bi-colored flowers that are yellow and white incoloration.

The pollen parent ‘0V-80’ (not patented in the U.S.) is our breedingline grown at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, having a spreading growthhabit with prostrate stems. It also has smaller-sized flowers than thenew variety ‘Sunviobuho’, and the petals have a light blue coloration.

In the following description, the color information is in accordancewith The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety is unlike any Viola cornuta commercially available asevidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

-   -   1. Spreading growth habit having long prostrate stems and many        branches.    -   2. Great profusion of blooms, with the entire plant remaining in        bloom for a considerable period of time.    -   3. Single, small-sized flowers having violet-blue and white        multi-colored petals that are borne on the long peduncles.

The new variety ‘Sunviobuho’ differs from the similar variety ‘ViolettoNive’ (not patented in the U.S.) in the following respects.

-   -   1. The peduncle length of ‘Sunviobuho’ is longer than that of        ‘Violetto Nive’.    -   2. The flowers of ‘Sunviobuho’ are smaller than those of        ‘Violetto Nive’.    -   3. The flowers of ‘Sunviobuho’ and ‘Violetto Nive’ differ in        petal coloration. ‘Sunviobuho’ is bi-colored, the upper petal is        violet-blue, and the lateral and lower petals are white. The        flowers of ‘Violetto Nive’ are white.    -   4. Flowering time of ‘Sunviobuho’ is earlier than that of        ‘Violetto Nive’.

The new variety ‘Sunviobuho’ differs from the similar variety ‘AlpineSummer’ (not patented in the U.S.) in the following respects.

-   -   1. The peduncle length of ‘Sunviobuho’ is longer than that of        ‘Alpine Summer’.    -   2. The flowers of ‘Sunviobuho’ are larger than those of ‘Alpine        Summer’.    -   3. The flowers of ‘Sunviobuho’ and ‘Violetto Nive’ differ in        petal coloration. ‘Sunviobuho’ is bi-colored, the upper petal is        violet-blue, and the lateral and lower petals are white. The        flowers of ‘Alpine Summer’ are bi-colored, the upper petal is        violet, and lateral and lower petals are yellow with dark purple        veins.    -   4. Flowering time of ‘Sunviobuho’ is earlier than that of        ‘Alpine Summer’.

The new variety of Viola plant ‘Sunviobuho’ was asexually reproduced bythe use of cuttings at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, and the homogeneityand stability thereof were confirmed.

The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproducestrue to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new cultivar. The plants had been reproduced bythe use of cuttings and were photographed during May 2002 while growingoutdoors in 24 cm pots at an age of approximately 7 months atYokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan.

FIG. 1 illustrates an entire plant of the new variety while growing in apot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close view of the blossoms of the new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Violacornuta named ‘Sunviobuho’ are set forth below. The plants were observedduring May 2002 at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan, at an age ofapproximately 7 months.

-   Plant:    -   -   Stemmed or stemless.—Stemmed.        -   Growth habit.—Spreading.        -   Height.—Approximately 14 cm.        -   Spreading Area.—Approximately 60 cm.-   Stem:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 38 cm.        -   Color.—R.H.S.144B (Green group).        -   Branches.—Many.        -   Pubescence.—Present.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Alternate.        -   Overall shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Obtuse.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Color of upper surface.—R.H.S.137A (Green group).        -   Color of under surface.—R.H.S.137C (Green group).        -   Leaf texture.—Matte and smooth.        -   Venation.—Reticulate venation, not apparent except center            venation.        -   Petiole length.—Approximately 2.7 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—Approximately 0.5 mm.        -   Petiole color.—R.H.S. 144B (Yellow-green group).        -   Stipule.—Approximately 2.5 cm in length, 1.3 cm in width.            Pinnately parted. Shape is narrowly ovate. Color of upper            surface — R.H.S.137A (Green group). Color of under surface —            R.H.S.137C (Green group).-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Flower solitary, axillary.        -   Flower form.—Single, 5 petals, 2 upper petals, 2 lateral            petals and a spurred lower petal.        -   Longitudinal diameter.—Approximately 3.3 cm.        -   Horizontal diameter.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Petal margin.—Entire, flat.        -   Flower color.—Multi-colored. Upper petal: R.H.S.91A            (Violet-blue group). Lateral petal: R.H.S.155A (White group)            with stripes near the throat R.H.S. 92B (Violet-blue group).            Lower petal: R.H.S.155A (White group) with stripes near the            throat R.H.S. 92B (Violet-blue group).        -   Petal size.—(Length×width). Upper petal: Approximately 1.8            cm×1.4 cm. Lateral petal: Approximately 1.2 cm×0.8 cm. Lower            petal: Approximately 1.3 cm×1.5 cm.        -   Petal shape.—Upper petal: Rounded. Lateral petal:            Elliptical. Lower petal: Cordate, spurred.        -   Eye color.—R.H.S.17B (Yellow-orange group) on the lower            petal.        -   Eye size.—Length: Approximately 2.2 mm. Width: Approximately            2.4 mm.        -   Spur length.—Approximately 4.5 mm.        -   Spur diameter.—Approximately 1.0 mm.        -   Spur color.—R.H.S.116B (Blue-green group).        -   Sepal.—5 sepals, unequal, approximately 0.6 cm-1.2 cm,            extended into short appendage.        -   Sepal color.—R.H.S. (44A (Yellow-green group) on both            surfaces.        -   Number of flowers.—November to March; Approximately 20            flowers per a plant. March to June: Approximately 100-120            flowers per a plant.        -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 14.5 cm.        -   Peduncle thickness.—Approximately 0.8 mm.        -   Peduncle color.—R.H.S.137C (Green group).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen—Five stamens joined around the ovary. Two lower            stamens are spurred.        -   Stamen length.—Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Anther color.—R.H.S. 9D (Yellow group). Tip: R.H.S. 166C            (Greyed-orange group).        -   Pollen color.—R.H.S. 9D (Yellow group).        -   Pistil length.—Approximately 4.5 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Ellipsoidal.        -   Stigma length.—Approximately 1.0 mm.        -   Stigma color.—R.H.S. 144B (Yellow-green group).        -   Style length.—Approximately 1.0 mm.        -   Style color.—R.H.S. 144D (Yellow-green group).        -   Ovary color.—R.H.S. 144C (Yellow-green group).-   Seeds:    -   -   Seed.—Some seed development has been observed.        -   Seeds color.—R.H.S. 165A (Greyed-orange group).        -   Size.—Approximately 2.0 mm in length, 1.0 mm in width.-   Physical characteristics:    -   -   Blooming period.—Early November to June in Japan, except            Hokkaido. A bloom commonly lasts approximately 5-7 days on            the plant.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Rain tolerance.—Medium.            This variety has survived temperatures of at least −7° C.            The plant grows well at temperature up to 25° C.            The lower and upper temperatures for the plant survival have            not been evaluated in detail.            No serious damage by white fly, aphids, and by fungus and            bacterial diseases has been observed.

This new variety of Viola cornuta plant ‘Sunviobuho’ is most suitablefor potting, and growing in hanging baskets and in flower beds.

1. A new and distinct variety of Viola cornuta plant named ‘Sunviobuho’,substantially as herein illustrated and described.